Inspiration when you need it.

A Simple Path – To Finding Home

“Peace – that was the other name for home.” ~ Kathleen Norris

After spending more than two weeks in Florida (for both fun and work), I sat exhausted on a Southwest Airlines flight last Friday night. When the pilot announced the flying time would be three hours, it had the same effect on me as if he said the flight would take an eternity. Both measures of time felt the same in that moment.

But mingled in with my tiredness was the excitement of one last thing to do – come home.

I couldn’t wait to come home.

While traveling is fun, by the end of each trip I feel the twinge that reminds me I’m not home. I think I’m becoming a home body as the half-century milestone lurks closer.

Beyond enjoying the curve of my pillow, knowing where the extra toilet paper is kept or sitting on my favorite side of the couch, my home is the safest place I know.

It’s more than the stucco and lumber that is in constant need of repair; my home is the place that reminds me what matters most.

My home is where I watch Emily practice her sauté before leaving for dance class. My home is where I indulge in my guilty pleasure of enjoying a glass of Malbec while watching the game. My home is where I find the space, and time, to write. My home is where I’m part of a family.

My home provides the framework for a beautiful life.

Sometimes the simple path to finding home begins with becoming mindful of its graceful presence no matter if the sink won’t stop leaking or if the garage is a disaster.

Spring will be here soon. When it arrives there will be projects to do. The deck needs a new surface and the tree in the front flowerbed has grown to the size of a redwood. Like always, care will be given to make certain the house gets made it needs.

Later in the summer, we are planning a beach vacation to celebrate my 50th birthday. There will be excitement in packing and heading east. But when it’s time to come home, I know I’ll be ready to return and live as long as I’m given in such a wonderful home – no matter how often our address changes.

I know I’ve found my home.

It’s built on the strongest foundation I know.

And I can’t wait to live here for the rest of my life.

What is A Simple Path?

This post is in A Simple Path, a twice-weekly series of short pieces inspired by my own life experiences. Each post is a simple path to experiencing something wonderful: maybe seeing life from a different perspective, or celebrating its beauty. Click here to read all posts in the series.

Glad that you enjoyed your trip my friend. 3 hours is not much, when I went to visit my country, it took me 11 hours to get back home. I agree with you many times we forget to appreciate home as they say, “there is nothing like home.” It is always good to travel, but it is also good to come back home. Thanks for sharing my friend

In the words of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, there’s no place like home! Home is always appreciated better when we’re away from it for a duration of time. Home is where the heart is. It’s our place of comfort, rest and relaxation. Glad you were able to endure the flight back home Alex! And congratulations on your 50th. You certainly don’t look it! God bless you, friend!